Safety pilot and automatic gas



Dec. 12, 1933- M. FINKEL ET Al.

SAFETY PILOT AND AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER Filed Dec. 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. MA URI 65 F/NKEL SAMUEL Z0 I/E BY ALEXANDER WE/SS A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 12, 1933. M. FINKEL ET AL SAFETY PILOT AND AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER Filed Dec. 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. MAUR/CE F/NKEL 5AMUEL 201/5 BY ALEXANDER WEISS A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES SAFETY PILOT AND AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER Maurice Finkcl, Alexander Weiss, and Samuel Zove, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application December 30, 1930 Serial No. 505,496

g '4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in safety pilots and automatic gas lighters and has for its object the production of a new and improved device of this type.

More particularly stated, one of the objects of this invention is to provide gas stoves having one or more burners with means whereby the opening of the gas cock or valve will automatically' result in the lighting of the gas which issues from the burner as a result of the said opening of the said gas cook or valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide gas stoves having one or more burners with means which upon the opening 'of the'gas cook or valve will automatically light the gas which issues from the burner but which will not otherwise influence nor disturb the normal flow of the gas during the time that the gas stove is functioning or during the time that the gas is being shut off.

Another object of this invention is to produce a device for the purposes above stated which will be comparatively simple in construction, which will be positive in operation and which will be easy to manufacture, assemble and produce.

These as well as other objects of this inven tion and the advantages arising therefrom will become more apparent from the following description and the drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary top view of an ordinary house gas range with our invention applied thereto. Only two burners are shown since the application of the invention to the other burners is obvious once the same is applied to any burner. The closed position of the cock and the control means is shown in full lines and the open position is shown by dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a side View of the disclosure shown in Figure 1 the supply pipe and supporting arm of one of the burners being partly broken away in order to more clearly show the novel safety pilot and automatic gas light-er herein disclosed.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken approximately through the center line of the main body portion of the novel pilot here disclosed. The pilot safety valve actuating lever and associated actuating mechanism not being shown in section for thepurpose of clearness. The position of the rod when the cock is closed is shown by full lines and when the' cock is open, by dot and dash lines.

(oli 15a 115) Figure 4 is a front view of the pilot safety valve actuating lever and its pivot pin.

Figure 5 is a front View partly in section of the novel pilot here disclosed. The lever actuating rods are shown in section. The pilot safety actuating lever has been omitted for the purpose of clearness.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference numerals denote similar parts, reference numeral 1 denotes the main supplymanifold of an ordinary gas range now in use, from which branch a'plurality of burner supply and supporting pipes 2, each of which terminates in a gas burner 3. The flow ofgas to the burner 3 is controlled by the well known cock 4 which has the usual body portion 5, spring 6 and cone shaped supporting screw 56. These elements are all old and well known in the art and for that reason will not be more particularly described here. 7

Instead of the usual washer present in the well known cock structures there is substituted the plate 8 having the upper portion 9, themidpor tion 10 and the lower portion 11. The upper portion 9 has a suitable aperture formed therein whereby it may be'placedover the screw 56. The'lower portion 11 has a suitable aperture 12 formed therein which receives the end 14 of the rod13.

The rod 13 extends through apertures26 formed in the base member 25 of the pilot body member 22. The end 15 of the rod'13 hasa cut out portion forming a shoulder on which is mounted the leaf spring 16. Pivoted at 58 near the end 15 of the rod 13 isa movable contact member 18, having a face 17, an angled surface 20 and a face 19. The free end of the member 18 contacts with the portion 41 of the valve actuating lever 35. The lower face of the member 18 rests upon the leaf spring 16. 7

The valve actuating lever 35 is pivotally' mounted in the arms 48 of the pilot body'memr and is composed of a portion 23 which threadedly engages a portion 24 at the point 36. The. portion 24 is composed of a barrel member 2'7 from which depends an arm 25 having a plu- 45" screwed onto the end 51 of the pipe 21.

30- complete.

end of the valve rod 30 terminates in a valve closure member 7 which is received upon the valve seat 40. A conical spring member 31 has one of its ends bearing against the end 7 of the valve rod and its other end bearing against the inner face of the member 23. A by-pass 29 leads from the chamber 57 to the chamber 28. The amount of gas which is to pass through the by-pass 29 is controlled by a screw valve 49 of the type now in common use in the well known pilot lights which are now on the market. The

chamber 28 communicates at its upper end with a chamber 33 formed in the pilot burner 32 which is carried by the barrel 27 of the pilot body member 22. The pilot burner 32 is of the common well known type now in common use and has a plurality (usually four) of burner openings 59. The barrel 27 carries the usual shield 34 for the pilot burner 32. This shield is of the common well known type now in general use 39. and has a plurality (usually four) of flame apertures 50.

Although the method of assembly and manner of operation of the device here disclosed is believed to be obvious from the foregoing dis- 5 closure, yet to obviate anypossibility of a misunderstanding the following detailed description is here given: I

To assemble the device the following procedure may be followedz-The pilot supply and sup- 3 porting pipe 21 can be any piece of pipe suitable for the purpose. The end 52 of the pipe 21 is screwed into a cooperating receiving aperture formed in the main supply manifold 1. The portion 23 of the pilot body member 22 is now The body 3 member 24 having properly positioned therein the valve rod 30 and the spring 31 is now screwed onto the member 23 at 36. The

ends 14 of the proper rods 13 are now insertedin the proper apertures 26 a'ndthe rod 13 is adjusted so that it is of the required lengthvizsuch that w hen the cock 4 is in the closed position (shown in Figure 2 and by the full lines in Figures 1 and 3) the free end of the member 18 contacts with-the portion 41 of the valve actuating lever 35. The end 14 is now turned down and anchored in the aperture 12 formed in the member 11 of the plate 8 for this purpose. The cap 34 is now put in place and the assembly is It is to be understood that the cock 4, its spring 6 and the plate 8 have been previously assembled in the manner now followed in assembling'stop-cocks, the only change being the substitution of the plate 8 for the washer which 5 is now being used at this point. It is to be further understood that the length of the rods 13 and their shape depend entirely upon the position of the cock of the burner which it controls relative to the pilot member 27. This is clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The device operates as follows:

We start with the closed position of the cocks 4 (as shown in Figure 2 and the full lines in Figures 1 and 3) and with the screw 49 adjusted so as to permit enough gas to flow through the by-pass 29 to the burners 59 to keep the normal inactive pilot light burning. If we now turn any cock 4 in the direction indicated by the cock arrow in Figure 1, gas will flow to the proper burner 3. The plate 8 will, however, turn simultaneously with the cock in the direction indicated by the plate arrow. The cock and burner will each assume its proper respective position shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure 1. During this operation the rod 13 will be advanced to assume its new position shown by the dot and dash lines in Figures 1 and 3. In the course of its advance from its closed position to its open position the end 19 of the member 18 actuates the end 41 of the member 35 outwardly around its pivot pin 45 and causes the contact member 44 of the member 35 to press the valve rod 30 inwardly against the pressure of the conical spring 31 opening the valve between the chambers'57 and 23 and permitting a supply of gas to rush into the chamber 28. This causes the pilot flames to spurt outwardly through openings 50 to play over the burners 3 and ignite the gas which is issuing from that burner 3, the cock of which has been opened. After the rod 13 has gone a certain distance (which is controlled by the height which the end of the member 18 in the normal position extends above the lower end of the member 41 and the radius of the arc of travel of the member 41) it will cease to contact with the end 19 of the member 18 and the pressure of the spring 31 as well as gravity will force it to fall on the upper surface of the member 19 or the surface 20 of the member 18 to finally assume its normal position. In this position it is above and free of the surface 17 of the member 18 as shown by the dot and dash lines in Figure 3, thus shutting off the extra gas supply for the pilot burners 59. For it is obvious that in this position the valve closure member 7 is seated upon the valve seat 40 and although the gas is flowing to the burners 3, yet no gas from-the pipe 21 can flow to the burners 59 only through the by-pass 29, thus resulting only in the small inactive pilot flame desired. In

closing the cock 4 the plate 8 is returned to its.

normal or closed position with a resultant resumption of normal or closed position by the rod 13. In moving to its normal position the cam surface 20 of the. member 18 contacts with the rounded surface on the lower end of the member 41 with the result that the member 18 is de fiected downwardly against pressure of the spring 16. As soon as the end of the surface 19 clears the inner face of the member portion 41 of the member 35, the spring 16 forces the member 18 upwardly and keeps it raised in the proper position for operative contact with the member 41. It is seen that when the cock 4 is being closed the rod 30 will not move, for contact between the member 41 and the cam surface 20 of the member 18 will cause the member 41 to rotate inwardly around its pivot 45. This will result in the outward movement of the contact lug 44. Since the valve rod 30 is always actuated outwardly by the spring 31 so as to keep the member 7 seated in its closed position, outward motion of the member 44 can only result in the valve remaining in its closed position. Inward movement of the member 41 is limited by the stop 46 which contacts with the lower surface 47 of the barrel member 27 of the main' body portion 24 of the member 22.

From the above description it is seen that the safety pilot and automatic lighter has the following characteristics: I H '(1) Opening of the gas cock' will' automatically result in activation of the pilot light, which .in turn will light the gas issuing fromthe burner which is supplied by the said gas cook: v

(2) The pilot light is activated during a specific predetermined period only. The period is determined bythe well known or readily determinable factors of height of the end 19 of the member 18 above the lower end of the member 41 and the radius of the arc of motion of the said member 41. The other elements of the member 18 such as the distance of the cam surface 20 from the outer end of the member 19 or the distance of the shoulder face 1'7 from the said outer end of the member 19 are matters of design which depend upon the factors of height of the end 19 of the member 18 above the lower end of the member 41 and the arc of motion of the member 41 and the time in addition, if any,

during which it is desired that the pilot light be activated. If it is desired that activation of the pilot light cease as soon as the end of the portion 19 clears the end of the member 41, it is only necessary to so design these cooperating elements and make the distance from the end of the member 19 to the point where the cam surface 20 joins the shoulder 17 such that when the end 19 clears the lower end of the member 41 the shoulder 17 will be immediately below the said end of the said member 41. V

(3) The pilot light will be activated only during the forward or opening phase of the cock. Never in the closing phase.

(4) The few parts and simplicity of construction make not only for ease ofmanufacture and assembly but also for positiveness of operation.

The above disclosure is to be understood as by the way of illustration only and not by the way of limitation since many changes may be made in the above disclosure without departing from the spirit of our invention. For this reason it is our desire that the claims which are hereunto appended for the purpose of defining our.

invention should be limited only by the prior art.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and useful is:

7 matic lighter consisting of a body member connected to the gas burner supply conduit, provided with a pilot burner and positioned so that maintain the pilot flame in its inactive phase and a rod controlled bore formed therein for periodically permitting a flow of activating fuel to the said pilot burner, means for normally forcing the said valve rod into the bore closing position, a lever carried by the said body member and positioned for actuating the said valve rod, a rod carried by the said supply valve, and a pawl mounted upon the said rod for contacting with the said lever whereby the opening of the said gas burner supply valve will result in a flow of activating fuel to the said pilot burner and the activation of'the said pilot light.

2. In combination with a gas burner and a supply valve for the same, a safety pilot and automatic lighter consisting of a body member connected to the gas burner supply conduit, provided" with 'a" pilot burner and positioned so that the said pilot burner will in'its active phase project a lightingjet to the said gas burner, the said body member having a screw controlled bore formedtherein for permitting a constant flow of fuel to the said pilot burner necessary to maintain the "pilot flame in its inactive phase and a" rod'controll ed bore formed therein for periodically permitting a flow of activating fuel to the said'pilot burner, resilient means contacting with the said valve rod for normally forcing the said valve rod into its bore closing position, a lever carried by the said body member and positioned for actuating the said valve rod against the said spring pressure and towards its open position, a rod carried by the said supply valve, a pawl pivotally mounted on the said rod and contacting with the said lever whereby the opening of the said gas burner supply valve will result in a flow of activating fuel to the said pilot burner and the activation of the said pilot light, and resilient means contacting with the said pawl and normally keeping the same positioned for operative contact with the said lever.

3. In combination with a gas burner and a supply valve for the same, a safety pilot and automatic lighter consisting of a body member connected to the gas burner supply conduit, provided with a pilot burner and positioned so that the said pilot burner will in its active phase project a lighting jet to the said gas burner, the said body member having a screw controlled bore formed therein for permitting a constant flow of fuel to the said pilot burner necessary to maintain the pilot flame in its inactive phase 7 and a rod controlled bore formed therein for periodically permitting a flow of activating fuel to the said pilot burner, a conical spring contacting with the said valve rod for normally forcing the said valve rod into its bore closing position, a lever pivotally carried by the said body member and positioned for actuating the said valve rod, a rod carried by the said gas burner valve, a pawl pivotally mounted on the said rod for actuating the said lever whereby opening of the said gas burner valve will result in the activation of the said pilot flame and a spring contacting with the said pawl and normally keeping the said pawl in its lever contacting position.

4. In combination with a gas burner and a supply valve for the same, a safety pilot and automatic lighter consisting of a body member mounted on a pipe carried by the gas burner supply conduit and provided with a pilot burner and positioned so that the said pilot burner will in its active phase project a lighting jet to the said gas burner, the said body member consisting of a base member threadably mounted on the said pipe and a barrel member threadably mounted upon the said base member, the said barrel member having formed therein a main entrance bore, a main pilot bore and a by-pass bore, a rod extending through the said barrel member and adapted to separate the said main entrance arms carried by the said barrel member, a lever pivoted in the said arms at a point below the rod, one end of the said lever positioned for actuating contact with the said rod and the other end of the said lever positioned for actuating contact with a pawl pivotally mounted on a rod carried 15o by the said burner supply valve, the said rod t i0nsh1p with the sai d lever when the said gas burneisu'pifly valve'is being opened and for perextending thrdugh an 'eiprture formed in the mittipg the said pavyl to ride under the pawl con- Siippdttihg 'ar'mearri'ed b? the said barrel me 1 be!"whereb; opening of the sa'idgas bin-net's: teptiiig' end of the said lever when the said burner my valve will 'resultin'the aetuatidn or fhdsjgld eldsdfahda stop member carried by thevalve 'red and in the forming of'a."comx'til n iicaptiQxi Saidlvfforljmitingthe inward motion of the hetvveeh the said entr nce bore and'tlie' said'pilt pawl contalbt'ip g' ehdbf the said lever. bbre Find in a flow b f jafiivaii ing fuel to the fSfii d H bilot bdre, a leaf Spying COhtaLc tin gtwitfi the ldj 'j sfiffa'c'eof the Said pawlaxid liorriially'foicing" the ilpwa-y'gily mtg positibn fbr "dijeretiive' rela;

MAURICE FINKEL.

ALEXANDER WEISS. 5 SAMUEL ZOVE. 

